BCAInfoSys From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (9 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1093 times:
I'll be flying into TXL on 7 March and flying back out on 11 March. We are planning to rent a car, and I wanted your recommendations and a little bit of general information. A few questions:
We are planning on taking the car east for a day trip to the Szcechin area of Western Poland. Will there be any problems taking a rental car over the border? How are the roads in Eastern Germany/Western Poland? Are they pretty easy to navigate or are there any areas we should be aware of?
Also, which car rental agencies have facilities at TXL? Any recommendations/past history with any car rental agencies you'd like to share?
DTW757 From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 1415 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (9 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1046 times:
I've used Sixt and Hertz from LEJ The roads are far better now than they were after the wall came down. It's become very difficult for me to even tell where the iron curtain was anymore. The east is so modernized. I know that some of the rental car companies do not permit you to take their cars any farther east than Germany though. Best to check with the individual company.
Neil49 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 21 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (9 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1024 times:
Try Auto Europe--I've been using them for many years and have been quite happy with them. And, as you're probably aware, it's almost always less expensive when you book in the U.S. as opposed to your destination.
http://www.autoeurope.com/
1-888-223-5555
You can ask them about restrictions re Eastern Europe.
BN747 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 5287 posts, RR: 52 Reply 4, posted (9 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1004 times:
I booked at Templehof in advance and it paid off..but since there are so many agencies at the airport that aren't weblisted, you might book in advance and on arrival...check with a few in terminal agencies to compare price just before you take out the pre-reserved car. (Don't feel bad about double booking...that time of year is still slow season)
BN747
"Home of the Brave, made by the Slaves..Land of the Free, if you look like me.." T. Jefferson
MD11Engineer From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 13336 posts, RR: 64 Reply 5, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 978 times:
For a cheap one try Robben & Winjtes in Prinzenstrasse in Kreuzberg. It is not directlyat the airport, you´ll have to go to U-Bahn (subway) station Prinzenstrasse and then walk a little bit, but when I still lived in Berlin I often rented vehicles there when I needed to move something.
Going to Poland in a rented car might be a problem. Be sure to get the permissdion from the rental company beforehand or you might have some trouble with the border police. There has been a lot of car theft with the cars being driven across the border for further sale in Russia by organized gangs, so the border guards are on the look out, and often checking car ownership papers and verifying them against chassis/engine serial numbers and a computer data base.
ANA From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2004, 294 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 974 times:
I have found Europcar consistently the cheapest in Germany and every time I have used them I have had a free upgrade (not guaranteed of course!). Hertz are good if you have an AMEX charge card - it often gets you 20% off if you ask for an AMEX offer when you book. We also have this site www.holidayautos.com (recently bought by lastminute) and they broker deals with all the big firms.
Watch out for all of them adding on loads of extras local tax, extra insurance and pre paid tank of (expensive) fuel. Europcar on the internet tends to include everything.
Airsicknessbag From Germany, joined Aug 2000, 4723 posts, RR: 38 Reply 7, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 974 times:
Regarding Poland, yes it might indeed be a serious problem to take the car across the border. I´ve never experienced a rental car company in Germany allowing their customers to cross the Polish border.
For illustration, have a look at this very instructive map, provided by Avis:
Also, the customs officers will notice if one tries to sneak through with a rental car: there are some tell-tale signs which make these cars easy to identify, even without looking at the papers.
The best option: drive to Tantow, from there there are 8 daily trains to Stettin (9.80 EUR rtn, travel time 24 minutes).
ANA From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2004, 294 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 971 times:
May depend on when you are going and when Poland joins the EU too. Mind you, there is many a story of nice cars going missing in Poland, so Daniel's probably right even after they join.
Sponsor Message: 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Germany, joined Jan 2004, 2098 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2004, 294 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
